While testifying at a subcommittee meeting on the Gulf oil catastrophe, Louisiana Congressman Charlie Melancon showed a candor and depth of genuine emotion rarely seen in today’s superficial, sound-bite dependent political climate. He opened his brief statement by rattling off a list of disasters his constituents have endured and went on to chastise those engaged in political posturing:
“I’m sick of it,” Melancon said, saying later “Our culture is threatened. Our coastal economy is threatened. And everything that I know and love is threatened. Even though this marsh lies along coastal Louisiana, these are America’s wetlands.”
At that point, overcome by emotion, Congressman Melancon could not continue.
Congressman Melancon’s reaction should be the reaction of each of us, as we see what our addiction to fossil fuels is doing to the Gulf coast, and to the planet. His words are what echo in my mind when I contemplate the future we are bequeathing to our children. Our culture is threatened, our economy is threatened, everything we know and love is threatened. The time to take action is now, while there is still time to salvage some of what we know and love!
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XL9YXvYbk5Q&feature=player_embedded]
Click here to go to 350.org or Kick The Fossil Fuel Habit.org for ideas and information about how we can turn this around, for everything and everybody we know and love!